"As to the movements of Mr. Oliver Tropenell, we have not been quite so fortunate in tracing them. But even so, we have evidence that during the fateful three days on one of which the murder was certainly committed, he was staying in London, having just arrived from the Continent. I personally have no doubt at all that it was on Thursday, January the 5th, that, lured by a cleverly concocted letter signed 'Fernando Apra,' the hapless Pavely went to Duke House to find Tropenell lying in wait for him. The two men may have had words--they probably _did_ have words. But whatever passed--and look at it as you may, St. Amant--it was deliberate murder." Lord St. Amant stood up. His turn had come to astound the Commissioner of Police. "Yes," he said, "yes, if your theory is correct, Kinross, it was deliberate murder--to me far the more terrible fact, because the murderer will soon be my stepson. I am to be married to Mrs. Tropenell by special licence next week." And as the Commissioner of Police, transfixed with surprise, remained silent, the other went on, speaking rather quietly and coldly, "It is only fair on my part to tell you this. Indeed, perhaps I ought to have told you at once--I mean when I first gathered the purport of what you wished to say to me." Sir Angus shook his head. He was filled with a great pity, as well as a great admiration, for the man--who now looked such an old man--standing there facing him. "Look here," he said slowly. "I oughtn't perhaps to make such a suggestion to you--but we've become friends, St. Amant. That is why I venture to advise you that before this next Friday you should get these two unfortunate ladies, Mrs. Tropenell and Mrs. Pavely, out of the country. Take them away--hide them away--in France or in Spain! If you do that they will be spared a fathomless measure of anguish and of shame. The presence of neither of them is essential to the course of justice, and if they remain in England they will certainly each be called as witnesses, in which case Mrs. Pavely will go through--well, I can only describe it as _hell_. It is not as if the presence of either of them would be really beneficial to Oliver Tropenell." "Can you say that quite truly about his mother?" asked Lord St. Amant searchingly. Sir Angus looked up with a very troubled expression of face. "No, I fear I can't," he answered, frankly, "for if Mrs. Tropenell can bring herself to believe her son absolutely innocent, then, in the hands of a skilful counsel, I have to admit that her evidence might be of great sentimental value to Tropenell. But the same cannot be said of Mrs. Pavely's presence in the witness-box. Whichever way you look at it, Mrs. Pavely's presence is bound to be, in a judicial sense, detrimental to the man in the dock. She is, if I may say so, St. Amant, a singularly attractive woman, and ten out of every twelve of the men in Court would probably regard her as providing a very adequate 'motive'!"